By the time Avery and the other students reached the partly collapsed building that held the gateway, they were all weak in the knees and felt like collapsing, but they held on strong. When they stood before the golden pillar of light, the gateway suddenly flashed, and four figures stepped out from it.
At the forefront was a middle aged man with black hair, and white streaks running through his hair. He had a neatly trimmed goatee and steely eyes that seemed to pierce through everything he looked at.
"Dreyfus." Avery called out to the man and his head snapped in their direction. She fell to her knees and the barrier that she used to protect the students from the turbulent waves of mana shattered like glass.
"Avery, are you alright?" In the blink of an eye, Dreyfus appeared beside Avery, holding her up so she would not collapse. He held up his hand and created a small platform made of lightning for her to lay on.
